FREE Campaign for Real Ale
Issue 32
Aylesbury Vale & Wycombe Branch
OCT/NOV 2002
GIANT PUBCOS ATTACKED AT LAUNCH OF 2003 GOOD BEER GUIDE Roger Protz, editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, launched a scathing attack at the launch of the 2003 edition on the country's giant pub companies that are squeezing craft breweries and reducing choice for drinkers. Protz cites the case of revered independent brewery W H Brakspear of Henley-on-Thames, which will stop brewing this autumn as it can’t
make a living from selling beer to such pub companies as Enterprise Inns, Pubmaster and Punch Taverns. ‘Brakspear is producing more beer than at any time in its history, yet as a result of the rampant greed of the giant pub companies it cannot make a sufficient return on its sales to justify staying in brewing,’ he says. Protz blames the cosy
duopoly of national brewers and pub companies for the onslaught on smaller craft brewers. ‘The national brewers are prepared to sell beer at deep discounts to the pub companies -discounts the smaller breweries cannot afford.’ Discounts don't mean lower prices for drinkers. "The pubcos demand beer at low
wholesale prices and then sell those beers for high retail prices. In between lie obscene profits,’ Roger Protz says. ‘The national brewers are happy to play the discount game. Marginal profit on one cask becomes big profit when they are brewing millions of barrels a year. But for small brewers, the discounts demanded mean the game is not worth the candle.
The free newsletter for the discerning drinkers of Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe
1
Swan Supping
Local News AYLESBURY We reported in our last issue that Big Hand Mo's was due to close soon for an internal refurbishment. This was news to the landlady and it seems that it is only wishful thinking on the part of local gossips! The County Arms has reopened under new management. It is all change again at the Emperor! There are new owners who want to refurbish the pub and reopen the restaurant and we hope to have more details next issue. The present management is due to leave in early October and Greta and Keith would like to take this opportunity to thank their customers for their support. Steve Loosley, formerly of the Firecrest, Wendover, is the new manager at the Market Tavern. The new opening times for the pub are 8AM to 6PM Monday to Wednesday and 8AM to 11PM on Thursday to Saturday.
BIERTON The Bell is now open all day Saturday and Sunday, 11am-11pm Sat, 12noon-10.30pm Sun. The complete food menu will also be available from 12 until 6pm Saturday
and from 12 right through till 9pm on Sunday. Not many pubs do food after 3pm Sundays so it may pay to book.
BLEDLOW The Lions of Bledlow was featured in a supplement in the Independent recently which listed the 50 best village pubs. They well deserve their listing in the 'Old World Charm' category, it seems a shame that with the great number of superb village pubs in our branch area, they could only find one to include in the list!
BOURNE END The Black Lion closed recently for a refurbishment due to last six weeks.
CADMORE END Ian Wingfield, manager-licensee of the Old Ship, has left the pub despite it being voted Wycombe District Village Pub recently. The pub is still open and a new manager is expected to be appointed soon.
CHINNOR The landlord of the Red Lion is due soon and it is not yet known who will be taking over at this Enterprise Inn. The Royal Oak is currently closed and there is no news about its future.
GRENDON UNDERWOOD Apologies to Fraser GUNN, the landlord of the Swan, as we said last issue that his surname was Gumm. Here we were thinking that he might be a distant relation of Judy Garland!
HENTON A party has been announced to celebrate the refurbishment and reopening of the Peacock by their new owners, the Bratzz Village Pub Chain. Obviously my invite is still in the post! However, three handpumps have been sighted!
since it shut. It now has a sign outside advertising it for sale for retail purposes, ie., it is being sold as a shop and empty shops are not in short supply in the surrounding area! The Wendover Arms on Desborough Avenue (part of Honeypot Inns) had a major refit in early August. The new appearance is bright and very colourful. On the left as you enter there is a non-smoking family room with a children's certificate. The front patio has more benches, and the garden has improved lighting and a children's play area including bouncy castle. Food includes a children’s menu, and a ‘Wendy Wopper’ consisting of steak, sausages, gammon steak, chips, onion rings, peas, mushrooms, tomatoes and eggs. The main news is that good beer is still served, currently Brakspear's Ordinary Bitter and the seasonal beer. There are BBQs on Sunday evenings, a Halloween party on October 31st and other charity events.
HUGHENDEN VALLEY
HIGH WYCOMBE The Desborough Arms, which was said to be closing to make way for urgently needed student accommodation, has been lying idle
The Harrow is now open again and as reported before, the pub is almost completely new. (Continued on page 15)
BEER FESTIVAL
The Full Moon Hare Lane, Little Kingshill Food Times Lunchtimes 12-2 PM Evenings 6.30-9 PM
Opening Hours Mon-Sat: 12-3, 6-11 Sun: 12-3, 7-10
GRANBOROUGH Local CAMRA member, Keith Phillips, reports that a real ale miracle has been performed in his village. There is a new couple in the Crown, Ben and Mel, and the transformation is incredible. There is now a regular choice of Hook Norton Best Bitter or Vale Brewery Wychert Ale with the chance of guest ales as things improve and the renovations are completed.
Licensees, Alan & Pam Sandell, welcome you to a pub with good food, good beer & good company. An English country pub, set in the Buckinghamshire countryside, full of character and offering a fine selection of real ales, Adnams Bitter and Broadside, plus two Guest Beers that change weekly as well as Young’s Bitter served straight from the barrel, lagers and wines, a food area and a real fire. An extensive range of home cooked dishes is available every day for lunch or dinner, including home-made soups, main courses, snacks, vegetarian and sweets at reasonable prices.
SENIOR CITIZEN LUNCH – EVERY WEDNESDAY
Phone 01494 862397
Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd November 2002 All the regular beers plus TEN guest ales on a theme of Bonfire Night & Guy Fawkes Marquee Fireworks & Bonfire Live Music every day
THE DOVE Aylesbury Road Wing 01296 688258
www.thefullmoon.fsbusiness.co.uk Please contact the editor if you have any news regarding our local pubs
2
Swan Supping
HALE NINKASI released by CAMRA which highlights how brewers have failed to attract women to beer. It features a modern version of ‘Ninkasi’, the 4000 year old Sumerian Goddess of Beer, and creates a powerful icon for real British beer. The research reveals that: • Over one fifth (22%) of women don’t drink real cask ale because it isn’t promoted to them • 17% of women think it is ‘old fashioned’ • 29% don’t try it because their friends don’t drink it • 17% think it will make them fat! • Only 23% of women have tried real ale in a pub • 19% of women would try real cask ale if it were served in more stylish and fashionable glasses
At the Great British Beer Festival, CAMRA launched a daring and powerful new campaign to encourage women to try real cask ale, Britain’s traditional pub drink. The campaign is in response to research into the nation’s beer drinking habits
Mike Benner, Head of Campaigns and Communications said, ‘We think real British beer is something to be proud of and it should be marketed to women as well as men. Our research shows that many women don’t try it because it isn’t promoted to them. Almost all of the advertising we see on our TV screens for
beer is too laddish, too lager-based and a real turn-off for women. Ninkasi, the new Goddess of British beer is here to change all that and sets a new precedent for marketing a great product.’ ‘Our survey also shows that many women think real cask ale will make them fat. This is a common myth and the truth is that beer contains no fat at all. We hope Ninkasi will help change their minds!’ Goddess Ninkasi is said to have created her recipe for beer some 4,000 years ago and was worshipped by both men and women at a time when women brewed the beer and ran the taverns. Ninkasi’s dream lives on today and the new Ninkasi is urging drinkers to ‘get real and discover the natural taste of cask ale.’ CAMRA claims that beer advertising is too macho and needs to become more femalefriendly through promoting the taste, diversity and enjoying beer with food as an alternative to wine. CAMRA calls on restaurants to offer a more interesting range of British beers which have been matched to dishes on menus.
Hogshead High Street, Marlow 01628 123456 A fantastic 25p off all Cask Ales for CAMRA members (on production of their membership cards)
during November and December
Real Ales Include:Adnams Southwold Bitter Greene King Abbot Hook Norton Old Hooky Brakspears (while still available) Plus LOADS of Guest Ales
Book NOW for your Christmas Lunch (from £7-95) December 2nd to December 22nd Please contact the editor if you would like to help distribute ‘Swan Supping’
3
Swan Supping
A REAL ALE HOLIDAY IN BRADFORD Since the 1970s the local CAMRA branch in Bradford have organised and hosted a Real Ale Holiday for members from outside the branch area. As this is only our fifth holiday we are novices, several regulars have been going since the holidays began. Most holidaymakers stay in the National Inventory listed Edwardian gas-lit New Beehive on Westgate. A few stay at the Melborn Hotel just up the road. You have to have stamina to be a Bradford holidaymaker, but you have to have a lot of stamina to stay at the Melborn. Run by an Irishman known as ‘brother’ Eamon, all his customers are either brother or sister, whilst taxis are helicopters, naturally. Along with the regular Tetley's there are guest beers from around the north and, if you want to improve your Tetley's, Eamon will sell you a can of de-icer or a tin of kidney beans from the mini-mart behind the bar. It has been known for holidaymakers not to get to bed before four each morning. The holiday begins on a Thursday evening in mid-July. The holidaymakers (12 this year, but usually the maximum is 16) meet with the branch members at the Beehive and crawl off to the Castle just down the road, or
Haigy's, or the Fighting Cock and always on this first night end up at the Melborn. This year Josie Boothroyd (the brilliant organisational genius behind all this) welcomes us all as she always does with the final itinerary for the holiday and introduces any newcomers. The provisional itinerary is sent earlier in the post. We finish a few more pints of Landlord and several of Kelham Island Best. Then to the Castle. The Castle is an elegant looking pub though slightly run down inside. It always seems to have mild (this time Hanson's) and Banks's is its regular bitter, but there are usually about four changing guests. What is best about the Castle is that it is a genuine boozer. The Grantham Stout from Oldershaw's is wonderful. After saying hello to brother Eamon it has to be a curry. This is where the Beehive scores highly. Bradford is the home of good and various curries, although BSE has put a stop to the brains. The Beehive has a curry house, the Sheesh Mahal, within a chapatti's throw. A cafe style joint, like many in the city, it serves bowls of freshly made curries, with plain rice or breads, until the early hours. Despite having gone up market recently (they give you cutlery now) it still costs less
The Clifden Arms
than a tenner a head. It is, frankly, excellent and we will be there every night. Friday is our first day out. After a cooked breakfast we walk down to the main station to be met by Josie and a dozen other Bradford branch members for the traditional 'public transport day'. For about £3 (included, like all other costs, in the holiday price) we get a West Yorkshire day rover ticket that we will use to get by train to Huddersfield. There, we have two minutes to make our connection to Marsden for a walk along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal to Standedge Tunnel. Yes, of course we miss it and have (Continued on page 5)
Barbara & Tony invite you to The Clifden Arms Worminghall. Take in the atmosphere of a fine English country pub. Our food is as appealing as the setting with a large garden and fun play area for the children. Enjoy a traditional pub lunch in the bar or choose from our comprehensive menu in the comfort of the restaurant. A children’s menu is always available. At the weekend, why not bring the family and enjoy our traditional Sunday lunch. Special lunch board every Monday to Thursday (plus Wednesday evening), offering two meals for the price of one. Curry night every Thursday
Why not celebrate your wedding, birthday, christening or other special occasion in the delightful surroundings of The Clifden Arms. A marquee is available for larger functions. Call us on 01844 339273.
Real ales on tap including weekly guests Meals served 12 – 2.30pm & 5.30 – 9.30pm Monday to Friday and 12 – 3.30pm & 5.30 – 9.30pm (9pm Sunday) at Weekends
The Clifden Arms Please mention Swan Supping when you visit any of our advertisers
4
Swan Supping
MORE REAL ALE FUN IN YORKSHIRE (Continued from page 4)
to have a pint at the Head of Steam. My wife, Hil, has a pint of Merry Legs cider and is unable to say anything for some time afterwards. At Marsden we have lunch at the Railway, a Burtonwood pub. The welcome is very friendly, the beer is OK, the cheese and tomato sandwich is dreadful. This is where another RAH tradition can be seen in operation. The group divides into ‘walkers’ and ‘non-walkers‘. You can decide on the motivation of each group yourself as the ‘non-walkers’ walk off to survey the pubs in Marsden. We have our only rain of the holiday (the only rain 1 can remember in five years) just before getting to the visitor centre at Standedge Tunnel. As narrow boats emerge so does another holiday theme. Place names in Yorkshire are never pronounced as you think. This is Stanidge.
usual he knows his stuff. He also arranges all the walks and has invented the Cody mile that is twice the distance you know. By time we get to Ripon it is very hot and thirsts are becoming critical. A pint of Beartown Wheat Beer was a good choice in the One-Eyed Rat followed by a cool tour of the Cathedral. Ripon is an attractive small ‘city’ but not a promising town GBG wise. Scouts are sent out as a local tells someone that Daleside beer is available. They sniff it out at the Royal Oak. Worth it too. Fish and
chips next. Nothing can beat Yorkshire fish and chips out of newspaper. A nap on the bus back to the Salamander Brewery follows. The Salamander Brewery is based in an old pie factory and I have been dreaming on the bus about the fantastic pies eaten in Otley a few years back. The young partners provide us with plenty of their fast improving beer whilst offering a short brewery tour. Is it me or when you have seen one microbrewery you've seen them all? 1 opt out of the tour.
Jono & Abby welcome you to
THE OLD MOAT HOUSE BROUGHTON CROSSING
Tel: 01296 485228
We take a 40 minute barge journey into the tunnel, all of 200 yards in and out. 1 don't know what 1 expected, but it's like being squeezed through a sewer pipe. It takes half a day to get a boat right through to the other end. It's quite scary and some are more pleased than others when it's over. A brisk walk back to Marsden finds the nonwalkers settled at the convivial Riverhead Brewery Tap. A couple of pints of their Sparth Mild go down well. A splinter group forms with the idea of getting a bus to the Sair Inn at Linthwaite (Linfit, hence the brewery of the same name based at the pub). Mike, the recently retired chairman of the Bradford branch, volunteers to lead the group. First we have to interpret the bus map and make a decision about which stop we should wait at. The locals do not get high marks for their local knowledge. The Sair Inn is a classic past Pub of the Year at the top of a very steep hill. The landlord is famously chippy meaning that 1 did not complain about the poor beer quality. Perhaps they were just having a bad day. Oddly, going down the hill gives us more problems than going up. Another bus and train get us back to Bradford in time for a couple of pints at the Castle and a curry. Saturday brings two mini buses and a day trip to Fountains Abbey and Ripon, finishing at the Salamander Brewery in Bradford. The Abbey and grounds are splendid. Lu Cody, another Bradford member, has raided the internet for us and has already done his research so he can give us a guided tour. As
Traditional Pub with 40 seat restaurant, Function Room and Family sized Garden Home Cooked Lunch & Evening Meals daily (All our meat is supplied by Godden Butchers) Weddings, Parties & functions catered for Forthcoming Events include:Friday 11th October :- Special Menu Night with Live Background Music Thursday 7th November :- Gourmet Night (Menu now available) Christmas and New Year Menus out now! Limited Spaces – SO BOOK EARLY!
The Old Moat House is
A group of country style pubs run by Peter & Annette Webster
Try also: Chandos, Weston Turville; The Royal Oak, Silverstone; Fox & Hounds, Whittlebury and Queen’s Head, Chackmore
(Continued on page 6)
Support your local brewers
5
Swan Supping
SCHADENFREUDE (Continued from page 5)
Later at the Fighting Cock we see the brewers again, and at the Castle, and at the Beehive. They are worried about the name of the brewery. We assure them that it's distinctive and memorable, unlike some. On Sunday we go to Ingleton. At the Craven Heifer we discuss with our German friend, Pete, German words commonly used in English. We agree that ersatz is a good word for the Thwaites Lancaster Bomber that the barman is desperate to flog us. The Mitchell's Original was better and the Thwaites Bitter is what we choose. Schadenfreude is also a good word. Prosit! Then the division between walkers and the rest takes place. We put on our boots to take the five mile circular walk round the waterfalls. It is hot and steep, but when we hear that Richard just up ahead has fallen over any schadenfreude soon evaporates as we realise he has fallen over a cliff and has landed, in true Beano fashion, on the branch of a tree just a few feet down. A yard either side and he would be dead. Various schemes to get the man out are tried until an ambulance arrives to treat a woman who has broken her leg further up the walk.
They can't get him out either. Cave Rescue is called and to discourage the crowd of rubberneckers Josie takes the rest of the party on round to Ingleton. We speculate on the way back as to whether Richard will be kept overnight in hospital for observation but he's already at the Waterfall pub when we finish our walk having been given the once over by the ambulance crew and a lift back with Lu. Relief turns to joy as Richard, with only a cut nose and sore leg to show for his drama, buys us all pints of Black Sheep and Taylor's Golden Best (a better beer than the ubiquitous Landlord). Joy because the Waterfall charges London prices. Dave Boothroyd, a natural non-walker and editor of the Tyke Taverner, is disappointed that we didn't get a photo of the event (the ethics of the press) and so stages a not wholly convincing reconstruction in the pub garden. We have a stopover in Ilkley on the way back. A very smart little town where we find a pub manager who watched Fawlty Towers and thought it was a management video. The sad thing was that the pub itself, Bar T'at, is very good and is one of a number in an enterprising chain. But he was going out of
his way to be rude to all of his customers and his hard-working staff. Don't let this put you off. If you are ever in Ilkley drop in, he's bound to be sacked by now. When we get back to Bradford there's a Celtic music group ‘jarnming’ at the Melborn. This pub has a strong live music scene and its own folk club. German Pete, who is a Uriah Heap fan, loves it. 1 can take folk music in very small doses but they are good, particularly the fiddlers. The pints of Slater's Hot Shot help. Monday is our last full day. We go, by mini bus again, to Rotherham. This does not sound exciting, but is. We are going first to the old Templeborough steel works, a mile long and now housing Magna, one of the few truly successful millennium experiences. As it is nearly the end of term it's full of kids but they are having a great time learning about the elements (earth, fire, etc rather than the periodic table) and the making of steel. As is common with museums these days Magna is very interactive. Having been in a gale, watched a fiery tornado and driven a JCB there is just time to watch the light and sound show as an old (Continued on page 7)
The Cock Inn at Wing Great Food! Great Restaurant! Always a wide range of Real Ale available!
Why not come and see for yourself? For further details phone 01296 688214 ‘Real Ale in Bucks’ is still available from the Editor
6
Swan Supping
BETTER THAN YOUR DREAMS (Continued from page 6)
furnace is briefly resurrected. Then to the Wentworth Brewery for a long lunch. South Yorkshire is surprisingly green and doesn't recognise the letter W. So, Wentworth is 'enterth. They do recognise good ale which we have plenty of at the Wentworth Brewery. The WPA is particularly good, as is the food laid on. Luckily we manage to escape the brewery tour again, although 1 sensed it was expected that we should go round. Small brewers can be evangelical, which is a good thing on the whole. Before it all gets very bleary the walkers set off for the short stroll into the village and the George & Dragon. More Wentworth beers can be had as well as beers from Taylor's and Derwent. In Bradford we go to the Fighting Cock. This is a very good free house in the middle of an uninviting industrial area. Always busy it has a mild and at least two real ciders together with about five other guests. 1 try the Thwaites mild, as 1 couldn't get it at the Thwaites pub the day before; they don't know what they were missing. Dave from Burton, a retired Bass brewer, is taken with a
West Yorkshire beer. This is a real exbusman's holiday for him. Peter, who is a cider loving disaster area, is forced to down in one a pint of Biddenden when we decide to go to the Melbom for last orders. He regrets this later.
beer is good. German Pete summed it up when he said after his first holiday that it was better than his dreams. Andrew Mullis
The holidaymakers who come by train or coach (nearly all live in or around London) meet up at the Corn Dolly in the city centre for Tuesday lunch before setting off home when they have finally had enough. Those who go early say farewells at breakfast, except for Peter. Bradford has its problems but don’t be put off, we will all be back. The Bradford folk are our friends as well as guides. They enjoy it all as much as we do and put so much in. Y o r k s h i r e co u n trysid e is magnificent and the
Remember to ’Ask if it’s Cask’!!
7
Swan Supping
NATIONAL NEWS SCOTTISH BEER WINS CHAMPION BEER OF BRITAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME! The Champion Beer of Britain 2002 was announced at the ‘biggest pub in the World‘, namely the Great British Beer Festival. Deuchars IPA brewed by Caledonian of Edinburgh was judged to be the best beer in Britain by a panel of brewers, beer writers and journalists. This is the first time that a Scottish beer has ever won the title of Champion Beer of Britain. The beer is described in the 2002 edition of the Good Beer Guide as, ‘An extremely tasty and refreshing amber-coloured session beer. Hops and fruit are very evident and are balanced by malt throughout. The lingering aftertaste is delightfully bitter and hoppy.’ The Edinburgh brewed beer was chosen as the overall winner from over fifty finalists in eight categories including beers from tiny micros to major regional brewers. Roger Protz, one of the finalist judges and editor of the Good Beer Guide said ‘I think that the victory for Caledonian is well overdue. Deuchars IPA is a fabulous beer. A brilliant blend of malt and hop character and above all a drink with enormous drinkability. A great victory for Scotland!’ David Brown, Caledonian’s Director of Marketing said ‘We are absolutely thrilled to have won this award, particularly as we are the first Scottish brewery to do so. Deuchars has been a great success in Scotland for many years and appreciate the support that CAMRA has given us.’
The Silver award went to East Street Cream from RCH (Somerset). Bronze went to Moondance from Triple FFF (Hampshire). It is hoped that all three will be featured at the Aylesbury Beer Festival in October (see elsewhere for full details of dates and times. The full results of the Beer of the Year Competition are as follows:SUPREME CHAMPION: DEUCHARS IPA - CALEDONIAN (EDINBURGH) Silver: EAST STREET CREAM - RCH (SOMERSET) Bronze: MOONDANCE - TRIPLE FFF (HAMPSHIRE) MILDS GOLD: PRESSED RAT & WARTHOG - TRIPLE FFF (Hampshire) SILVER: MAN IN THE BOAT - BOAT (West Yorks) BRONZE: BLACK CAT - MOORHOUSES (Lancashire) BITTERS GOLD: DEUCHARS IPA - CALEDONIAN (Edinburgh) SILVER: VIKING - RUDGATE (York) JOINT BRONZE: HEWISH IPA - RCH (Somerset) JHB - OAKHAM (Peterborough) BEST BITTERS GOLD: MOONDANCE - TRIPLE FFF (Hampshire) SILVER: BREWERS GOLD - CROUCH VALE (Essex) JOINT BRONZE: RED MACGREGOR - ORKNEY (Orkney) LONDON PRIDE - FULLER’S (London)
Aaron Cleaning Services Industrial & Commercial Cleaning Contractors Est. 20 years
For brighter/cleaner premises Call the ‘A team’ Seven Days a Week Mobile 07989135408 / Fax 01296 437643 All CAMRA members can get discounts on all CAMRA books
8
Swan Supping
NATIONAL NEWS STRONG BITTERS GOLD: EAST STREET CREAM - RCH (Somerset) SILVER: ESB - FULLER’S (London) BRONZE:HOP GARDEN GOLD - HOGS BACK (Surrey) SPECIALITY BEERS GOLD: WHITE DWARF - OAKHAM (Peterborough) SILVER: S C H I E H A L L I O N HARVIESTOUN (Clackmannanshire) BRONZE: UMBEL MAGNA - NETHERGATE (Suffolk) GUARDIAN/CAMRA BOTTLE-CONDITIONED BEERS GOLD: 1845 - FULLER’S (London) SILVER: LIVE ORGANIC - BRAKSPEAR (Oxfordshire) BRONZE: SUMMER LIGHTNING - HOP BACK (Wiltshire)
JOIN CAMRA TODAY Just fill in the form below and send your remittance (payable to CAMRA) to Membership Secretary, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 4LW Rates are Single £16, Joint £19 (at same address), Student/OAP/Unemployed/ Disabled £9, Joint OAP £12 (at same address), Under 26 £9 Date of Birth ……... Name(s)............................................................................................................…….. Address ...............................................................................................................….. .......................……..................................................... Postcode ......................…… I/We wish to join the Campaign for Real Ale, and agree to abide by the Rules. I/We enclose a cheque for £...................……….
Date .................…
Signature ............................................................ AYL (SWAN SUPPING)
The White Horse Hedgerley Village, Bucks
01753 643225 SEVEN REAL ALES AT YOUR SERVICE FOR COFFEE MACHINES, FRESHLY ROASTED COFFEE & ANCILLIARIES 01491 613709 Unit D2, Watlington Industrial Estate Cuxham Road, Watlington, Oxon OX49 5LU
Hosts: Dot & Family Quick Service & Civility, Good Company Garden & Car Parking Facilities A FAMILY RUN FREE HOUSE
Please send your letters and articles to the editor – address on the back page
9
Swan Supping
IN TOWN TODAY – ‘TOWNES’ After last December's real ale and football extravaganza at Chesterfield, I was willingly subpoenaed once again to this North Derbyshire jewel for a prescription of beer, football, beer and more beer. Doctor’s orders! To be precise Dr. John Wilkinson's orders, my host and drinking partner for this Bank Holiday saunter. It was time to ensure the ale was still up to scratch, while taking in the Mansfield versus Chesterfield local derby at Field Mill. Another arduous slog up the M1 on Friday afternoon brought my tinder dry throat ‘gagging’ for a hoppy lubricant. This regular condition was quelled superbly by the local Townes brewery new summer wheat beer. Christened White Light (4.1), it was a great starter for ten and oozed wheaty citrus flavours to complement my scampi, fries and peas at the Portland Hotel. Further delights imbibed at this Wetherspoons establishment on offer were Highgate Beezone (3.8) and Olivers Army (4.4), a red hue tasty beer from the Springhead brewery. A short stroll across the market square to the Market public house, where a pint of Nethergate Golden Gate (4.5) was selected from the eight or so handpumps adorning the bar of this friendly L-shaped tavern. Next stop, the Rutland, alias Hogshead, which is sited dwarfing the famous crooked spire. Stood outside on a side patio conversing under this floodlit landmark, it was both eerie and glorious, especially with a fine pint of Tim Taylor Landlord (4.3) to hand. The pubs on a whole tonight were busy but not busting, unlike my last visit here preChristmas.
selected alehouses. A couple of polite doormen bid us good evening and then ‘adieu’ after a pleasant jar of The Leveller (4.8), another tangy brew sourced from the Springhead portfolio. The Royal Oak was nominated as our next destination as Fullers London Pride was allegedly on handpump. On arrival it wasn’t but Marstons Pedigree (4.5) was and tasted OK. The curtain was brought down on the nights jovialities with a mandatory appointment to the Spread Eagle for a few pints of Banks’ Original (3.5). Saturday evening started at the Derby Tup at Wittington Moor, a street-corner treasure where quality real ale and quality conversation rule supreme. Castle Rock stablemates Rams Gold (3.5) and Something Different (4.6) were sampled along with Pynot Porter (4.5) another from Townes, our next port of call. The Speedwell Inn at Staveley is home to the Townes brewery since 1998. On entering this large spacious pub, we were greeted by a chatty barman, whom it turns out is a fellow CAMRA member and BLO for the resident brewery at the rear of the pub. The touchpaper was lit, as I was ‘forcibly’ fed brewed-on-site ales Staveley Cross (4.2), Grand Muffin (5.0) and Sunshine (3.6), the latter being brought direct from the cellar and on the house. Cheers! These Townes beers were accompanied with Pynot Porter (4.5) and Speedwell Bitter (3.9) on handpump which I'd already cherished before. If these weren't enough, they run a guest beer policy, Manchesters Boggart Hole Cloughs Angel Hill (4.2) being the lucky recipient for my welcoming taste buds.
Another Wetherspoons, the Spa Lane Vaults was introduced to ‘moi’ by a growing gathering of local drinkers on our circuit around
(Continued on page 11)
Wholesale greengrocer to the catering trade
Tel: 01296 482379
Fax 01296 423800
Why not write to your local MP to support licensing reform?
10
Swan Supping
Royal Oak Aston Abbots
MORE NORTHERN FUN (Continued from page 10)
On our exit we vowed to return in the not so distant future to spend a greater length of quality drinking time at this real ale haven.
4 miles north of Aylesbury, off A418
The return journey to Chesterfield was made via the Royal Oak at Old Tupton where a Daleside Bitter (3.7) was put through its paces. This pub again had five or six beers on offer and features in the 2002 Good Beer Guide. They are certainly spoilt for choice up t' north! The rest of the night was spend tackling the infamous ‘Brampton Mile’ with other Spireite cohorts celebrating the 2-0 triumph at Mansfield earlier in the day. A midnight curry served as a nightcap before I retired to my lodgings. An excursion to North Derbyshire would not be complete without a trip to the Arkwright Arms at Sutton-cum-Duckmanton for a Sunday roast before the M1 southernly dogma back to sunny Buckinghamshire. But what's this, lo and behold, a Bank Holiday beer festival at this roadside bijou. Of the five beers consumed, pick of the hoppy crop was Summer Oak (4.6) a creation from a certain brewery at Weatheroak and the Coach and Horses. Contemplating the best beer of the weekend, impossible, but my prodigal return to this part of England is as certain as me using an alias for this florid communique.
600 year old thatched pub ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Open fires Three real ales Extensive meals Bed & Breakfast
Dr. Thirsty
Hosts: Gary and Teri Tel: 01296 681262
The Green Dragon 8 Churchway, Haddenham Tel: 01844 291403 Haddenham's Award Winning Village Inn
Every Tuesday and Thursday Night Special A two Course Meal for just £10.95 Choice from starter and main course or main course and sweet As well as full Menu being available December 1st to 24th – Simply Christmas! - 3 Courses for £19.95
Booking recommended!
www.eatatthedragon.co.uk
Always ensure that you get a full measure!
11
Swan Supping
Vic & Sue Hinde Welcome you to
The White Swan 10 High Street Whitchurch Tel: 01296 641228 Home Made Meals Sunday Roast Lunches Special Parties catered for Large Attractive Beer Garden 2002 & 2003 Good Beer Guides Fullers Traditional Ales
AYLESBURY 9th Annual Vale of Aylesbury Beer Festival Friday 25th October 6pm–11pm & All Day Saturday 26th October Eskdale Rd. Community Centre, Stoke Mandeville Tickets £4 at the door or £3 in advance (ticket includes £2 worth of beer tokens) Strictly Over 18s only Hot & Cold food available For the ninth time, the Aylesbury Vale & Wycombe branch of CAMRA is pleased to team up with the Friends of Florence Nightingale House to present their annual beer festival. The festival will be held at the Community Centre in Eskdale Road, Stoke Mandeville following our great success there last year. There will be thirty real ales available including many prize winners from the Great British Beer Festival. Beers on order include the National Winner – Caledonian Deuchars IPA, along with as many other winners as we can get, with prices starting at £1-60 per pint. For the non beer drinkers, we will have traditional ciders and perry and a bar will be open serving non-alcoholic drinks for the drivers amongst you, and lots of food will be available. There will be a
A CAMRA membership form can always be found in Swan Supping
12
Swan Supping
BEER FESTIVAL special commemorative glass available, plus the 2003 Good Beer Guide will be on sale and we will again be running a ‘Beer of the Festival’ competition.
Tickets are on sale at Aylesbury Tourist Information Offices, and Aylesbury & Wendover Hospice Shops For further information or Credit card payments, please contact The Friends’ Office on 01296 429975
The Carpenters Arms, Marlow The only proper boozer left in town!
Home Made Sandwiches available Pub Games, Real Fire, Patio
BEER FESTIVAL
b PH Bell
s
15 Spittal Street, Marlow, Bucks Telephone : 01628 473649
Fine Ales from Greene King
PH – Bull PH – Woolpack
Mick and Wendy Rolley
The White Hart Quainton (Nice Pub, shame about the Landlord)
Adnams Bitter Young’s Bitter Evening meals served until 21:00 (except Thursday)
Bar Snacks available until 22:45. Bed & Breakfast £25.00 p.p.p.n (inc V.A.T) En Suite Room/Colour T.V./Tea/Coffee English Tourist Board Approved (3 Diamonds) 4 The Strand, Quainton, Aylesbury Bucks HP22 4AS Tel : 01296 655234 Please note: We are closed for Thursday Lunchtimes
Vale Brewery of Haddenham offer CAMRA Award Winning Local Ales, traditionally brewed from only the finest ingredients, available in polypins and party packs.
To order telephone 01844 290008 Price list (incl. VAT) Notley Ale Black Swan Dark Mild Vale Best Bitter Wychert Ale Hadda’s Summer Glory Edgar’s Golden Ale Black Beauty Porter Hadda’s Head Banger
ABV 3.3% 3.3% 3.7% 3.9% 4.0% 4.3% 4.3% 5.0%
Fir. 72.00 73.00 73.50 74.00 74.00 76.00 77.00 80.00
Bottled Beers Black Swan Dark Mild Wychert Ale Edgar’s Golden Ale Halcyon Daze Black Beauty Porter Grumpling Premium Hadda’s Head Banger
3.3% 3.9% 4.3% 4.3% 4.3% 4.6% 5.0%
500ml 500ml 500ml 500ml 500ml 500ml 500ml
Why not join us at one of the CAMRA socials? See the list on back page
Polypin 42.00 43.00 43.50 44.00 44.00 46.00 47.00 50.00
2 gal 22.00 22.50 22.75 23.00 23.00 24.00 24.50 26.00
Buy a mixed case for £20
13
Swan Supping
Woods Wines Your local wine wholesaler since 1992. Henley-on-Thames
Tel: 01491 642 269 Call us now to request a brochure & copy of our wholesale price list. • • • • • • • • • • •
MOWCHAK Bar & Indian Restaurant Wycombe Road, Stokenchurch 01494 485005
Free local delivery Independent local wholesaler International selection of fine wines Wholesale prices to the private buyer Party ice & pre-chilling service Sale or return facility Wine list design Free staff training Wine appreciation evenings Ongoing customer support Associated with local event & catering companies
www.woodswines.co.uk email: woodswines@btconnect.com
Not just a pub Not just an Indian
2 Real Ales Morlands Original Ruddles County Sunday Buffet Menu (Noon – 3pm) Onion Bhaji, Sheek Kebab, Aloo Vora, Chicken Tikka Massalla, Lamb Rogon, Bombay Aloo, Channa Massalla, Pillau Rice, Nan and Green Salad Adult £ 7.50 Child (under 12) £ 4.50
REGULAR GUEST BEERS
All day, every day Kingsbury square, aylesbury Tuesday – CLASSIC ROCK NIGHT (open ‘til 1am) Wednesday - 6 60’s, 0’s, 70’s & 80’s (open ‘til 2am) thursday – top banana (open ‘til 2am) DRINKS PROMOS ON Friday & Saturday – the gate (‘til 2am) Sunday – krazy, kicking karaoke from 8pm Help save our traditional pubs – Life wouldn’t be the same without them!
14
Swan Supping
Beer Festival Diary
Local News Morrells. Beer sales are reported as having increased considerably.
(Continued from page 2)
IBSTONE
October
Chairman
David Roe
01296 484551
Treasurer
Tony Gabriel
01494 527884
Secretary
Nick Holt
01296 483554
Bierton
Mick White
01296 428266
Beaconsfield
Colin Staines
01494 674427
2-5 (Wed-Sat): 25TH BEDFORD BEER FESTIVAL, Corn Exchange, St Paul’s Square, Bedford 3-5 (Thu-Sat): 4TH TWICKENHAM BEER FESTIVAL, York House, Richmond Road, Twickenham 3-5 (Thu-Sat): THE GREAT WELSH BEER AND CIDER FESTIVAL, City Hall, Cardiff 4-5 (Fri-Sat): WORTHING BEER FESTIVAL, Richmond Rooms (adj Town Hall, Worthing 4-5 (Fri-Sat): HUDDERSFIELD OKTOBERFEST BEER FESTIVAL, Greenhead Hall, Greenhead Rd, Huddersfield (Near the Park) 4-5 (Fri-Sat): 4TH SOLIHULL AND DISTRICT BEER FESTIVAL, Solihull British Legion, Broomfields Hall, Union Rd, Solihull 10-12 (Thu-Sat): 12TH WAKEFIELD BEER FESTIVAL, The Town Hall, Wakefield 10-12 (Thu-Sat): 9TH CROYDON AND SUTTON REAL ALE FESTIVAL, Wallington Hall, Stafford Road, Wallington 16-18 (Wed-Fri): BELFAST BEER AND MUSIC FESTIVAL 2002, Ulster Hall. 17-19 (Thu-Sat): 8TH BIRKENHEAD BEER FESTIVAL, Pacific Road, Birkenhead. 17-19 (Thu-Sat): 22ND STOKE BEER FESTIVAL, Kings Hall, Kingsway, Stoke 17-19 (Thu-Sat): OXFORD CAMRA BEER FESTIVAL, Oxford Town Hall, St Aldates St, Oxford. Open Thu 5-11pm, Fri/Sat 11-11pm. Around 120 real ales, foreign bott beers, real cider/perry. Admission £2.50 (£1.50 CAMRA membs). Volunteers welcome all days + set-up Wed. Pse contact David Hodges on 01865 395476 or e-mail dhodges@brookes.ac. uk 17-19 (Thu-Sat): 3RD QUORN OCTOBERFEST, Quorn Village Hall, Leicester Rd, Quorn, Nr Loughborough 17-20 (Thu-Sun): NOTTINGHAM BEER FESTIVAL, Victoria Leisure Centre, Sneinton, Nottingham 18-19 (Fri-Sat): 25TH BATH BEER FESTIVAL, THE PAVILION, NORTH PARADE ROAD, BATH 22-26 (Tue-Sat): 9TH WESTMORLAND BEER FESTIVAL, The Town Hall, Highgate, Kendal, Cumbria 24-26 (Thu-Sat): 8TH CARMARTHEN BEER FESTIVAL, St Peters Civic Hall, Nott Square, Carmarthen 25-26 (Fri-Sat): 4TH POOLE BEER FESTIVAL, St Aldhelms Centre, Poole Rd, Branksome, Poole 25-26 (Fri-Sat): HAMPSHIRE DOWNS (OVERTON) BEER FESTIVAL, St Luke's Hall, Overton, Hampshire
Bledlow Ridge
Dave Thompson
01494 481492
November
High Wycombe
Elvis Evans
01494 511248
Marlow
Alan Sheppard
01628 476367
Stokenchurch
John Bazin
01494 483039
Wendover
John & Tina Wood
01296 625215
Regional Organiser
Colin Lanham
01344 481305
1-2 (Fri-Sat): 19TH EASTLEIGH BEER FESTIVAL, The Nightingale Centre, Nightingale Avenue 1-2 (Fri-Sat): 8TH WATFORD BEER FESTIVAL, West Herts Sports Club, Park Ave, Watford. 40+ beers + cider & perry. Open Fri noon11pm, Sat 11-11pm. West Herts Sports Club and CAMRA membs free, non membs £1. Food avail all sess. Further details Tony Smith 01923 221155 or Martin Few 01923 252412. E-mail watfordcamra@hotmail. com. Website www.watfordcamra.org.uk 7-9 (Thu-Sat): 2002 ABERDEEN + NORTH EAST BEER FESTIVAL “BEER WARRIOR” (aka 16TH GT GRAMPIAN BEER FESTIVAL), McClymont Halls, 43A Holburn St, Aberdeen 8-9 (Fri-Sat): 9TH WOKING BEER FESTIVAL, Woking Leisure Ctr, Woking Park, Kingfield Rd, Woking, Surrey 14-16 (Thu-Sat): RETURN OF THE CONCRETE PINT BEER FESTIVAL, Madcap Theatre, Creed St, Wolverton, Milton Keynes (5 mins walk fm Wolverton rly stn) – back at the original venue. 40+ real ales, + ciders/perries, food, refundable souvenir glass. Foreign beers & entertainment (tbc). Open noon-1030pm each day. Admission £3 (CAMRA membs get free pint), free noon-2pm Thu & Fri. Volunteer staff reqd 11th-17th. Enquiries Barry Mayles, 01908 370036, 07949840137, b.mayles@ntlworld.com, mkcamra@hotmail.com 14-16 (Thu-Sat): 17TH SWINDON BEEREX, Territorial Army Drill Hall, Church Place, Swindon 21-23 (Thu-Sat): 26TH LOUGHBOROUGH BEER FESTIVAL, The Polish Club, off William St, Loughborough
There is considerable building work going on at the Fox. Eight extra bedrooms are being built for the hotel section and there are changes being made to the restaurant and bar.
TETSWORTH The Lion on the Green has been sold and is currently closed, but it is expected to reopen in the near future.
WHEELER END COMMON
MARLOW The present management at the Chequers is due to leave in the near future. Further details next issue.
The Brickmakers is now run by Mo from the Clayton Arms, Lane End.
WING
The Plough has been reported to be changing hands soon.
The Dove is to hold a beer festival just before Bonfire Night. From Friday 1st November until Sunday 3rd there will be a marquee with ten real ales plus fireworks, bonfires and music.
The Red Lion is due to close for refurbishment.
POSTCOMBE Englands Rose has a new manager.
WORLDS END
STUDLEY GREEN
Paul McGill, landlord of the End of the World, has decided to pack up and sell the pub. Paul has been a great supporter of Swan Supping, having been an advertiser since our 7th issue (Aug/Sep 1998) and been in the last four Good Beer Guides (including 2003!). The pub was due to close at the end of September. Owner Gary Dawson has had the pub on the market for about a year for c. £650k, and as it is a free house, we can expect interest from breweries and pub groups across the region.
The Studley Arms closed in August but there is still hope that it will reopen and not remain one of the sad statistics regarding village pubs. The owners, Avebury Taverns, say that they are actively looking to let the pub on a lease as a joint venture with a tenant.
SYDENHAM The Crown is now serving two beers from Greene King after the recent buy out from its previous owners
Branch Contacts
Useful Addresses CAMRA HQ: 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts AL1 4LW. Tel: 01727 867201 Fax: 01727 867670 E-mail: camra@camra.org.uk Internet: http://www.camra.org.uk PLANNING DEPARTMENT For comments, complaints or objections about pub alterations or developments Aylesbury: AVDC Planning Dept, High St, Aylesbury HP20 1UB Tel: 01296 585406
TRADING STANDARDS For complaints about short measure, price lists, strength lists (ABV), etc. Aylesbury: County Hall, Walton Street, HP20 1UP Tel: 01296 383212 Oxford: PO Box 618, County Hall, OX1 1DX Tel: 01865 815000 (Mon - Fri 8:30am-5pm) ADVERTISING STANDARDS For complaints about deceptive advertisingAdvertising Standards Authority Brook House, 2-16 Torrington Place London WC1E 7HN
Aylesbury Beer Festival – Friday 25th & Saturday 26th October
15
Swan Supping
Swan Supping is distributed free of charge to pubs in the branch area. Published by the Aylesbury Vale & Wycombe branch of the Campaign for Real Ale and printed by Computer Press (Oxford) Limited, Harrow Road Cowley, Oxford OX4 6NP Tel: 01865 747464
Circulation
3200 copies.
Edited by David Roe Editorial Address : 16 Jasmine Close, Aylesbury, Bucks HP21 9SH. Tel/Fax : 01296 484551 E-Mail : DWRSS@aol.com Advertising rates are :- 1/16 page £6, 1/8 page £15, 1/4 page £27.50, 1/2 page £55, full page £90. Add 10% for front page adverts. 10% discounts for payment in advance. All bookings are taken as run-of-paper. Copy deadline for next issue, due to be published on 1st December 2002 is 14th November 2002. Subscriptions :- Swan Supping is distributed to over 200 pubs in our area, but if you would prefer to receive a copy by post, we can mail it to you immediately it is published. All you need to do is send a supply of A4 size envelopes stamped 33p to: Nick Holt, The Old Star, 163 Aylesbury Road, Bierton, Aylesbury Bucks. HP22 5DW. This applies to single copies to UK addresses only. We can mail overseas, so just send a cheque and we’ll let you know when it runs out. ©Aylesbury Vale & Wycombe CAMRA 2002. Opinions expressed in Swan Supping are not necessarily those of the editor, or the Campaign for Real Ale. Acceptance of an advertisement in Swan Supping by a pub or its availability there does not guarantee CAMRA approval of the outlet.
Branch Diary Everybody welcome to all socials and meetings! OCTOBER Monday 7th BRANCH MEETING 8:00pm, Queens Head, Aylesbury. Friday 18th MARLOW PUB CRAWL Starts 7:00pm at the Hogshead, followed by Chequers, Carpenters, Duke of Cambridge and the Ship Friday 25th – Saturday 26th AYLESBURY BEER FESTIVAL The 9th Annual Vale of Aylesbury Beer Festival Eskdale Road Community Centre, Stoke Mandeville Friday 25th October 6pm–11pm & All Day Saturday 26th October This is a charity beer festival held in conjunction with the ‘Friends of Florence Nightingale House’
NOVEMBER Monday 4th BRANCH SOCIAL 8:30pm White Hart, Quainton Friday 8th BRANCH DINNER 7:00pm (for 7:30) Green Dragon, Haddenham The return of our Annual Branch Dinner is open to all local CAMRA members plus their significant others. Use of public transport is strongly advised and Haddenham is well served with trains for the Wycombe end of the branch, whilst there is a late night bus for those in Aylesbury interested in a few beers afterwards. Please contact the editor (address on this page) if you are interested. Wednesday 13th BRANCH MEETING 8:30pm Shepherd’s Crook, Crowell Wednesday 20th BRANCH SOCIAL 9:00pm Crown, Granborough Friday 29th PRE-ADVENT LONDON PUB CRAWL Starts 5:30pm at Lamb, Leadenhall Market, followed by a stroll round various hostelries in the City of London. If you require the full route of the crawl, please contact the editor (address on this page) towards the end of October.
Tony & Lynne welcome you to
The Black Horse, Lacey Green Brakspear’s Bitter
Tel: 01844 345195
Hook Norton Bitter
Sunday Lunch 12 – 2 (Only £5-95 for two courses) Pub is open all day Sunday but no food in the evening Lunches 12 – 2 Tuesday – Friday & 12 – 2.30 on Saturday Evening Meals Monday 6.00 – 7.30 Tuesday to Friday 7 – 9, Saturday 6.30 – 9 Pub open all day Saturday & Sunday Christmas Menu available – 5 Courses for £19-95 (Bookings Only) Car Park Friendly Atmosphere Outside Functions Catered For Check for further details on – www.aylesburyvale.net/risborough/blackhorse TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS IN SWAN SUPPING CONTACT THE EDITOR
16